Anti-Sulfur Technology

Introduction

Anti-sulfur modules are those designed to prevent sulfur buildup from resulting in abnormal operations. Such modules may be used in environments featuring extremes of temperature, humidity, or pollution in which sulfur is present in high concentration such as near the end of exhaust pipes or in mines.

Sulfurization Process and Effect

What is sulfurization, and what does it do to sensitive electronic parts? Sulfurization, here referring to metallic sulfurization, is the chemical process when sulfur reacts with air or water, produces hydrogen sulfide. When this is absorbed by metallic surfaces, a chemical reaction begins, creating a sulfide.

Where hydrogen sulfide diffuses between a memory module’s barrier and resistor, this begins a chemical reaction that transforms what had been a conductive silver chloride electrode into silver sulfide, a non-conductor, preventing the resistor from functioning properly or even creating an open circuit. The sulfurization process of a resistor is described below in Figure 1:

Anti-Sulfur Methods

To prevent sulfurization, resistors should be made sulfur-resistant. There are several methods for creating anti-sulfur resistors. Different manufacturers utilize different patented processes, but there are generally two approaches.

The first is to use a different material for the electrode, for example gold or alloys. See Figure 2. This approach comes with an effective result; however, it may result in an increased production cost given the high cost of inputs; another drawback is that different metals have different levels of electrical resistance.

The other anti-sulfur approach is to cover and therefore isolate the electrode, thus preventing hydrogen sulfide from coming into contact with the silver. See Figure 3. This method is more commonly used, as well adopted by Transcend.

Atmospheric sulfur is on the rise due to increasing levels of pollution, and the applications for anti-sulfur components is increasing. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, the Internet of Things, and the Internet of Vehicles, electronics are being introduced into more and more areas that will require the use of anti-sulfur technology. Transcend therefore offers anti-sulfur technology to protect its modules from the sulfurization effect.